During the off season Johnny B sat down with Alta freeskier Caroline Gleich to talk shop on life and powder
skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Read the contents of Johnny and Caroline's discussion or download/listen to the
MP3 podcast.

Johnny B: I got another question I ask everybody, I'm going to ask you. Well, I haven't asked everybody but I'm going to start asking everybody because I want to know, so do the people. Tell us, Caroline, what was your most hardcore moment on skis?

Caroline Gleich: Well, I have hardcore moments all the time, obviously. But some of my most hardcore moments involve waking up to an alarm at 3:30 and heading up to Alta to the Our Lady of the Snows parking lot by 4:30, and hiking up to the top of Superior for sunrise, ski runs. And then going to Alta for first chair and skiing all day.

Johnny B: Wow. That is impressive. Up at 3:30, hiking by 4:30, sunrise on Superior.

Caroline Gleich: It's amazing out there. It's a great experience.

Johnny B: Face shots. Tell us about face shots. You probably get a lot being that you're a - of small stature.

Caroline Gleich: Well, most of the time, being five feet tall, five feet even, has many drawbacks like going to the grocery store, you have to ask somebody to help you to get stuff off the top shelf but when it comes to powder snow ski riding, being 5'0 definitely has some advantages.

Johnny B: So, when we're all out there skiing like ankle deep powder, you're out there getting face shots, no wonder you're always so happy and smiling.

[Pause]

Johnny B: You're a coach, isn't that correct?

Caroline Gleich: I am.

Johnny B: Who do you coach?

Caroline Gleich: I coach for two different free ride teams, the Alta Freeride team and Axis Freeride, and we train out at the Utah Olympic Park.

Johnny B: Is that right? What kind of coaching do you do?

Caroline Gleich: I specialize in jump coaching. So, I teach little kids and big kids, all ages, how to flip and spin, and do spread eagles and daffy's and grabs, and pretty much, I teach them how to do at all, I'm actually certified for USSA as a aerial coach.

Johnny B: So, you teach them how to hit ramps?

Caroline Gleich: I do. I teach them how to hit ramps and cliffs, and back country booters and terrain park jumps, halfpipe.

Caroline Gleich: Have I ever needed ski patrol? Oh, yeah. One day at snow bird, three years ago, the Galande Competition. I was skiing down, the in run in the morning, it is an early morning training at 9:30 on the frozen coral reef. And some 190 atomic powder pluses, I wanted to ski those so I could get some extra lift off the jump.

And on my sixth jump, I had a funky take-off and I landed on one foot, tried to bring the other foot to match it, to ski the run out and I wrecked and I tumbled like 600 feet down the landing hill and ended up in the fence, not really knowing where I was and spitting blood out of my mouth.

Johnny B: There you have it folks. Caroline Gleich, at one time or another, did need ski patrol.

[Pause]

Johnny B: What does Alta mean to you?

Caroline Gleich: Well, Johnny, that is a loaded question there. I would have to say, that to me, Alta is my medicine. It is what heals my troubled mind. Anytime I have a problem or I feel sad or even when I feel happy, I just go to Alta and all my problems are taken care of and I don't have a single worry in the world.

Johnny B: So, it is an escape from this harsh world that we're living at times.

Caroline Gleich: It's my paradise. It's my heaven. I don't believe in the afterlife because my real life is so awesome.

Johnny B: You are in heaven, Caroline.

Caroline Gleich: I am in heaven.

Johnny B: There you have it folks, Caroline Gleich. This is Johnny B for altacam.com. We're going to go powder skiing. Come along.